Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a wiring layer; a titanium nitride layer deposited on the wiring layer; a titanium oxynitride layer deposited on the titanium nitride layer; a titanium oxide layer deposited on the titanium oxynitride layer; and a surface passivation film deposited on the titanium oxide layer, wherein an opening penetrating the titanium nitride layer, the titanium oxynitride layer, the titanium oxide layer, and the surface passivation film is provided to expose a part of the wiring layer so as to serve as a pad.

Abstract: A switch device includes: a first touch sensor portion to which one end of a first wiring portion is connected; a second touch sensor portion to which one end of a second wiring portion is connected; and a touch wiring portion having one end of which is connected only to the second wiring portion and the other end of which is open; the touch wiring portion being arranged such that when one capacitance is produced between the touch surface and the first wiring portion by a touch operation, the other capacitance is produced between the touch surface and the touch wiring portion by the touch operation; and the touch operation is disabled when detecting the one capacitance and the other capacitance. A finger touches a portion other than a touch sensor portion (wiring portion), and the touch is disabled, and thereby, a high reliability is achieved.

Abstract: The fiber component of the present invention has a fusion splice section for connecting optical fibers. The optical fiber as the receiver of transmitted light is coated with at least two-layer resin. In the vicinity of the fusion splice section for connecting optical fibers, the innermost layer of a resin-coat section is uncovered with other resin coat at the boundary between the resin-coat section and resin-coat removed section of the optical fiber coated with two-layer resin. The structure effectively releases light and suppresses increase in temperature of the resin-coat section, protecting the optical fibers from burn-out.

Abstract: An optical fiber of the present invention includes an uncoated FBG fiber in which an FBG mirror is written in a core glass, a first optical fiber that is spliced to one end of the FBG fiber with a first spliced point interposed therebetween, and a second optical fiber that is spliced to the other end of the FBG fiber with a second spliced point interposed therebetween. The optical fiber of the present invention also includes a collectively recoated portion in which at least the FBG fiber, the first spliced point, and the second spliced point are collectively recoated with a recoat resin having a refractive index less than that of silica, the FBG fiber being sandwiched between the first spliced point and the second spliced point.

Abstract: The fiber component of the present invention has a fusion splice section for connecting optical fibers. The optical fiber as the receiver of transmitted light is coated with at least two-layer resin. In the vicinity of the fusion splice section for connecting optical fibers, the innermost layer of a resin-coat section is uncovered with other resin coat at the boundary between the resin-coat section and resin-coat removed section of the optical fiber coated with two-layer resin. The structure effectively releases light and suppresses increase in temperature of the resin-coat section, protecting the optical fibers from burn-out.

Abstract: The optical fiber of the present invention has an input double-clad fiber containing high-reflection FBG, an oscillation double-clad fiber, and an output double-clad fiber containing low-reflection FBG. The output double-clad fiber is formed of a core, a first clad, and a second clad. In the output double-clad fiber, a high refractive-index resin coat section recoated with high refractive-index resin whose refractive index is the same as that of the second clad or greater is disposed at a part where the second clad is partly removed between an output end and the low-reflection FBG. The refractive index of the high refractive-index resin coat section gradually increases along the direction in which light travels through the first clad.

Abstract: A switch device includes: a first touch sensor portion to which one end of a first wiring portion is connected; a second touch sensor portion to which one end of a second wiring portion is connected; and a touch wiring portion having one end of which is connected only to the second wiring portion and the other end of which is open; the touch wiring portion being arranged such that when one capacitance is produced between the touch surface and the first wiring portion by a touch operation, the other capacitance is produced between the touch surface and the touch wiring portion by the touch operation; and the touch operation is disabled when detecting the one capacitance and the other capacitance. A finger touches a portion other than a touch sensor portion (wiring portion), and the touch is disabled, and thereby, a high reliability is achieved.

Abstract: The optical fiber of the present invention has an input double-clad fiber containing high-reflection FBG, an oscillation double-clad fiber, and an output double-clad fiber containing low-reflection FBG. The output double-clad fiber is formed of a core, a first clad, and a second clad. In the output double-clad fiber, a high refractive-index resin coat section recoated with high refractive-index resin whose refractive index is the same as that of the second clad or greater is disposed at a part where the second clad is partly removed between an output end and the low-reflection FBG. The refractive index of the high refractive-index resin coat section gradually increases along the direction in which light travels through the first clad.

Abstract: Even at an unknown power point, control by estimated maximum power point is carried out. An MPPT controller (20) includes: a measurement data acquiring section (31), which acquires an amount of solar radiation and/or a temperature from a pyrheliometer (14)/a thermometer (15), and which acquires an electric current value and/or a voltage value from an ammeter (17a)/a voltmeter (17b); a search control section (34), which searches for a maximum power point by controlling a power point of an array (10) by controlling an inverter (18); an estimate equation computing section (32), which estimates an estimate equation (A) that holds between the amount of solar radiation and a maximum operating current value and/or an estimate equation (B) that holds between the temperature and a maximum operating voltage value; and an MPP estimating section 35, which estimates a maximum power point at an amount of solar radiation or at a temperature by using the estimate equation (A) or (B).

Abstract: A particulate matter (PM) detection sensor is placed in an exhaust gas pipe of a diesel engine. The PM sensor element has a detection part composed of a pair of detection electrodes and a heater part. The detection electrodes and the heater part are stacked in the PM sensor element. A control circuit instructs a heater power supply to supply electric power to the heater part when the diesel engine is started to operate. The heater part heats the detection part at a predetermined temperature T1 within a range of 600° C. to 900° C. for a predetermined period S1 of time, for example, 650° C. for 20 seconds, in order to burn and completely eliminate particulate matter accumulated in the detection part. This control process avoids incorrect detection of the PM detection sensor. After this process, the control circuit executes usual control of the PM detection sensor.

Abstract: A particulate sensing element that detects a concentration of electrically conductive particulates PM in a gas to be measured includes a sensing portion exposed to the gas to be measured in which a pair of sensing electrodes that face each other formed with a predetermined gap therebetween on a surface of an electrically insulating heat resistant base plate, and a heating element that heats the sensing portion to a predetermined temperature, wherein a catalyst layer that can oxidize the electrically conductive particulates PM is formed at least on a part of a portion except the sensing portion exposed to the gas to be measured.

Abstract: A melt of a hydrogen storage alloy having an arbitrary composition is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified. Alternatively an alloy having an arbitrary composition, after heating to a temperature equal to or more than a melting point thereof, is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified. Thereby a homogeneous alloy reduced in segregation, precipitates, or inclusions is obtained. The homogeneous alloy is excellent in the hydrogen storage amount, in the plateau property and in durability.

Abstract: Disclosed is a volume hologram optical recording medium having a recording layer with low moisture absorption. Specifically disclosed is a volume hologram optical recording medium having a multi-layer structure including a transparent substrate and a recording layer. The recording layer contains a resin matrix (A) and/or a resin matrix (B) and a photosensitive compound (C). The resin matrix (A) is obtained by reacting a polyisocyanate (A1) and a polyol (A2) having a —(C?O)O— group and/or a —O(C?O)O— group, while the resin matrix (B) is obtained by reacting an epoxy compound (B1) having two or more epoxy groups in one molecule and a curing agent (B2). In addition, the recording layer has a moisture absorption rate of 1.5 wt % or less.

Abstract: A melt of a hydrogen storage alloy having an arbitrary composition is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified. Alternatively an alloy having an arbitrary composition, after heating to a temperature equal to or more than a melting point thereof, is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified. Thereby a homogeneous alloy reduced in segregation, precipitates, or inclusions is obtained. The homogeneous alloy is excellent in the hydrogen storage amount, in the plateau property and in durability.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided having a lift device comprising: a carrier; a swing arm with one end fixed to a shaft and another end coupled the carrier; and a drive for swinging the swing arm on top of the vehicle. The carrier is lowered from the top of the vehicle at an inclination with the point at which the carrier is attached to the swing arm raised. The swing arm comprises a first arm fixed to the shaft and a second arm mobile along the first arm that is coupled to the carrier. Telescoping means displace the second arm along the first arm when the swing arm swings, so that the carrier is retracted when the swing arm is upright. A support device supports the carrier, and support position displacement means cause it to project horizontally from the top of the vehicle when the carrier is lowered.

Abstract: A melt of a hydrogen storage alloy having an arbitrary composition is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified. Alternatively an alloy having an arbitrary composition, after heating to a temperature equal to or more than a melting point thereof, is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified. Thereby a homogeneous alloy reduced in segregation, precipitates, or inclusions is obtained. The homogeneous alloy is excellent in the hydrogen storage amount, in the plateau property and in durability.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided having a lift device comprising: a carrier; a swing arm with one end fixed to a shaft and another end coupled the carrier; and a drive for swinging the swing arm on top of the vehicle. The carrier is lowered from the top of the vehicle at an inclination with the point at which the carrier is attached to the swing arm raised. The swing arm comprises a first arm fixed to the shaft and a second arm mobile along the first arm that is coupled to the carrier. Telescoping means displace the second arm along the first arm when the swing arm swings, so that the carrier is retracted when the swing arm is upright. A support device supports the carrier, and support position displacement means cause it to project horizontally from the top of the vehicle when the carrier is lowered.

Abstract: A melt of a hydrogen storage alloy having an arbitrary composition is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified, alternatively an alloy having an arbitrary composition, after heating to a temperature equal to or more than a melting point thereof, is cooled gradually at a cooling rate of 5° C./min or less and solidified, and thereby a homogeneous alloy reduced in the segregation, precipitates or inclusions is obtained. An effective hydrogen storage amount, the plateau property and the durability more excellent than ever can be obtained.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy of TiaMnbVcZrd (one of two kinds or more of Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Ca, Al, Mo and Ni)x (herein, a is 10 to 40 atomic %, b is 40 to 60 atomic %, c is 5 to 30 atomic %, d is 15 atomic % or less, and x is 0 to 10 atomic %) is obtained by the rapid solidification (solidification at the cooling rate of desirably 103° C./sec or higher).

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy of TiaMnbVcZrd (one of two kinds or more of Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Ca, Al, Mo and Ni)x (herein, a is 10 to 40 atomic %, b is 40 to 60 atomic %, c is 5 to 30 atomic %, d is 15 atomic % or less, and x is 0 to 10 atomic %) is obtained by the rapid solidification (solidification at the cooling rate of desirably 103° C./sec or higher).